METHOD Add coffee to 1 cup of boiling water and mix. Pour over dates and soak overnight. Stir in flour, add a little extra water if needed. Pour mixture into a paper-lined loaf pan. Sprinkle with flaked almonds and bake in a pre-heated oven at 160 degrees centigrade for 45 mins or until cooked.

Brown chicken & onion in a little oil. Place in casserole dish. Combine soup mix & nectar in saucepan. Cook until thickened, pour mixture over chicken. Cook for approximately 1 hour at 160 degrees in casserole dish with lid or cover with alfoil. Serve with rice or vegetables.

Lyn pops in once a month with easy to do recipe that won't break the family budget. This one is just in time for those colds days ahead.

BRAISED STEAK

By Lyn Pearce

INGREDIENTS

500g round/blade or topside steak

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon nutmeg

Salt & pepper to taste

1 large potato

1 large onion

4 medium pieces of pumpkin

1 large carrot

METHOD

Cut meat into 4 even pieces, place into greased roasting or casserole dish, rub in combined brown sugar, nutmeg, salt & pepper. Peel & slice onion, potato, carrot, peel pumpkin, place all on top of meat, cover with water, place lid or foil on top, cook in medium oven for approx. 2 hours or until meat is tender. Thicken with gravox or plain flour if needed. Maybe served with green vegetables etc. Beans, broccoli, peas, corn or cauliflower.